Akron dedicates 17-foot sculpture made with recycled Goodyear tires at Lock 3
On Thursday, downtown Akron’s Lock 3 became the site of a striking new public artwork. The 17‑foot sculpture Transit rises above the Cynthia and Landon Knight Hemlock Walk, its twin petal forms framing a pedestrian pathway.
Created by internationally recognized sculptor Chakaia Booker, the piece is constructed from stainless steel and recycled Goodyear Racing Eagle tires, a nod to the city’s historic ties to the tire industry and its legacy of polymer innovation.
The commission marks a milestone for the community, being the first major contemporary outdoor sculpture in Akron awarded to a woman artist at this scale. The project was selected by the Lock 3 Art Task Force and approved by the Akron Public Art Commission, with support from local foundations and the city.
Booker’s career spans more than four decades of transforming discarded tires into dynamic forms, and her work is held in institutions such as the Metropolitan Museum of Art and the Whitney Museum. The addition of Transit adds a vibrant cultural anchor to downtown, reinforcing the city’s commitment to an active, welcoming public realm.